A level of 10 percent is the amount at which the average person begins to experience the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to a publication by Industrial Scientific Corp. The autopsy report states that Bowen attempted to “buddy breathe with a fellow firefighter” after his SCBA tank was empty, and resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
Bowen, 37, died July 28 fighting the fire inside a five-story medical office building in downtown Asheville. Fire officials said he went into cardiac arrest after suffering from exposure to heat and smoke. Investigators believe an arsonist started the fire after pouring fuel in four places.
A State Bureau of Investigation dog trained to detect accelerants alerted authorities to a spot just inside the door of the northwest corner office of suite 500 on the top floor of the building, according to a search warrant. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tested samples taken from the areas and found the fuel was a petroleum-based substance, such as kerosene, charcoal lighter fuel or diesel fuel, according to the warrant.
No one has been charged.
Bowen, a captain with Rescue 301, was among the first firefighters to reach the building. He was ensuring no one was trapped inside, fire officials said. About 200 workers and patients were in the 150,000-square-foot building when the fire started. None were injured. Bowen issued a distress signal over the radio after reaching the top floor. Firefighter Jay Bettencourt, who was working with him, was injured. The building had no sprinkler system, and firefighters had "trouble" with standpipes, which carry water to each floor from a street hydrant, according to radio transmissions.
